heckled two times in 1 week

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

if it's possible, I try to get close and talk to them in a calm pleasant voice. THey hate to be confronted with your humanity.
"why were you yelling at me?"
"do I know you?"

stuff like that.

I use this tactic a LOT in life's confrontational moments. It's my favorite and most effective means of dealing with difficult people!

[gnat23]

Blow a kiss at 'em.

-- gnat! (I pretend they're complimenting how my butt looks in spandex)

[Eden]

There's a woman around here who deals with those types by putting her best "mom" on..

[in a really concerned tone] I heard you yell, but I couldn't tell what you were saying. Are you OK - do you need help, are you asking me for help? Can I call someone for you? Your parents, the police - is everything OK...

[channlluv]

Oh, now that's funny.

Roxy

[ginny]

Eden, Bicyclista, Fabulous ideas! The middle age woman wanted me to come over to her driver's side window (geticulating angrily), and I just said in a friendly (confused) voice, "bicycles can take the lane here". I think going over and asking her if she was okay would have been funnier. My response is to become very confused (why are they yelling at me? do I in fact know them? should I get off the road - major accident ahead?), then I get scared (are they going to run me off the road?), then I get mad

I need to let it roll off my back. I love the 'mom' voice - excellent!

[lauraelmore1033]

Oh, the things that have been yelled at me!!! You'd think it was a crime to be a fat lady on a bike around here. It's been worse since school is out and the kids all like to hang around the trail. I've found the most effective response, for instance, when passing a group of teenage boys, hooting about my fat b!tchitude, is to slow down enough to make eye contact and say " YOU have a NICE day, now!" Those particular boys don't yell at me anymore. Some times they say "have a nice day" in an ironic tone when I pass, but considering the alternative, I'll consider that a huge improvement.

[lo123]

ugh.. people suck.

I've been yelled at plenty (and I've only been riding 5 months or so). I just ignore it, or I'll wave and smile... I really like the idea of blowing a kiss at people.

My mom used to quote a verse from Proverbs (25:21-22) that still brings a smile to my face (emphasis mine):
"If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you."

I just like the mental image of heaping burning coals on someone's head I guess Mom knew the way to get me to be nice back to someone was to give me some sort of vindication

An incident last week freaked me out.
I was on a women's group ride with ~18 other riders, and I was at the front of the paceline. A truck passed us, nearly clipped my front wheel, and then slammed on his brakes about 50 ft. in front of me. I thought he was going to get out of the truck or something. He sat there for about 15 seconds (it seemed like an eternity) then sped off.

[evangundy]

Oh, the things that have been yelled at me!!! You'd think it was a crime to be a fat lady on a bike around here. It's been worse since school is out and the kids all like to hang around the trail. I've found the most effective response, for instance, when passing a group of teenage boys, hooting about my fat b!tchitude, is to slow down enough to make eye contact and say " YOU have a NICE day, now!" Those particular boys don't yell at me anymore. Some times they say "have a nice day" in an ironic tone when I pass, but considering the alternative, I'll consider that a huge improvement.

I was about 210 lbs when I started riding - During my second year riding, some kids in a car yelled something about "shouldn't have that fat a$$ on a bicycle in public". When I caught them at the light I asked them "why should I stop riding, since cycling has helped me lose 100lbs (actually 10 but they didn't need to know that). And then I asked "I did a 100 mile bike ride the day before (which was the truth) - how far can you ride in a day?" The kid that yelled at me actually apologized and said "way to go losing so much weight".

I kinda felt bad about my little white lie (not for too long), but I got the feeling that they would think twice about making those comments to someone else. Kids are easy, it's the adults that yell that are idiots. I ususally put my hand up to my ear and shrug my shoulders, showing them I can't hear them. Then give a big smile and wave. Haven't had anyone slow down to repeat what they said.

Love the "mom voice" idea :-)
Edna